The ambition of this volume, to provide a historical overview of Asia Minor in the ancient world, is readily acknowledged by the author, who speaks of the process of “compromise” in his approach (p. 5). However, the reader would be hard-pressed to imagine someone better qualified than Christian Marek for such an endeavour, and the result is a detailed, thought-provoking and enjoyable book that does much to apprise both scholars and curious readers about the current state of research into the history and cultures of Asia Minor. The book is an English translation of the original German edition, Geschichte Kleinasiens in der Antike, first published in 2010, and is a collaboration between Marek and his deceased colleague, Peter Frei. It is a weighty volume, which covers the history of the Anatolian peninsula from prehistory through to the Roman Imperial period, divided into nine chapters, plus an epilogue; two appendices provide a chronological table and comprehensive list of rulers spanning the period from the Hittites down to the Roman provincial governors. Extensive notes and bibliography, organized by chapter, are provided for those who want to delve in greater depth into any of the material covered.

The metaphors of Asia Minor as a “bridge” between East and West, and as a cultural “melting pot”, are common in modern scholarship, and Marek too adopts such an approach, early on speaking of the “unique mediating position of Anatolia” (p. xiv). The introduction outlines the historical and geographical scope of the volume, and lays out Marek's intention to plot the “changing orientations, mixtures and transmissions” that affected Asia Minor in the longue durée (p. 4). The volume ends before the reign of Constantine, which Marek justifies (fairly in my opinion) by saying that the Byzantine era is too rich to be “squeezed into a closing chapter” (p. 5). He primarily defines Asia Minor geographically, as the eastern Mediterranean peninsula that roughly equates to modern Turkey, and it is a historical overview of the peoples and cultures of this land that he is seeking to write. He is also keen to note that this does not readily correspond to any political or cultural unity, and the borders of his narrative are at times extended to include neighbouring cultures, for instance the events in Armenia during the Roman Empire.

The history of exploration in Asia Minor is the focus of chapter 2, from the first travel accounts in the Middle Ages, through to modern excavations in Turkey. Marek provides an entertaining, at times critical, account of the changing preoccupations of such visitors, in particular the “tunnel-vision” (p. 36) of early archaeological excavations that were seeking specific results, often to the detriment of material that did not fit their vision. The historical narrative begins in earnest in chapter 3, covering the period from prehistory to the second millennium bce. Fascinating accounts of the discoveries at Göbekli Tepe and Çatal Höyük, among others, are presented, ending with the earliest written documents from Asia Minor, uncovered at the Assyrian trading colony at Kārum-Kaneš. Chapter 4 focuses on the Late Bronze Age through to the Iron Age, tracing the rise and fall of the Hittite Empire in central Anatolia, and the emergence of regional identities, including those of the Lycians, Carians, Phrygians and Lydians. Marek also addresses the continuing academic debate regarding the possible presence of Mycenaean Greeks in the west, and the potential connection of the Bronze Age city Wilusa with the city of Ilios/Troy known from myth.

Chapter 5 covers the incorporation of Asia Minor into the Persian Empire and the involvement of the “Greeks” in the region from the sixth century to the end of the fourth century bce. Chapters 6 through to 8, which cover some 350 pages, then deal with the period from the emergence of the Hellenistic Empires in the aftermath of Alexander's campaign through to the consolidation of Roman rule on the Anatolian peninsula by the end of the third century ce.

The structure of each section covers the main events and political shifts that occurred in each period, drawing on a full spectrum of literary, epigraphic, archaeological and numismatic evidence, before dealing with issues thematically, such as religion (the “thousand gods” of the title), language, art or trade. The reader is given an erudite account of the complexities and diversity of the peoples that inhabited ancient Anatolia, drawing out possible continuities as well as periods of shift. This is especially pronounced in chapter 9, which focuses on the conditions in the Imperial provinces of Asia Minor. Marek discusses issues such as ethnic identities, trade and commerce, and civic organization, and succeeds in placing the social and political culture of Imperial Asia Minor in a broader context. He displays a sensitivity to the cultural dynamics of Anatolia, and repeatedly attempts to restore the local perspective in his account through recourse to a diverse range of evidence.

With a work of this magnitude, there will always be limitations of coverage, and it is true that the Hellenistic period through to the end of the Roman Empire is treated in greater depth than earlier epochs. However, Marek does a commendable job of illuminating the events, cultures and peoples of Asia Minor across this broad time frame, and introduces the reader to the main scholarly debates. There is a vividness to the text, and despite some minor oddities of phraseology in the translation, the narrative unfolds in a lucid and engaging manner. The volume is handsomely illustrated with multiple images and maps, which help to breathe vitality into the landscape of Asia Minor. In the Land of a Thousand Gods is currently the most comprehensive and learned account of the history of Anatolia available, and Marek succeeds in illuminating this complex land.